Mid-chain branched peracids and peracid precursors

Abstract

Mid-chain branched peracids and peracid precursors useful in laundry and cleaning compositions, especially granular and liquid detergent compositions are disclosed. These peracids and precursors are suitable for formulation with a wide range of detergent adjuncts for the purpose of providing improved cleaning systems, especially for use in detergent compositions which will be used in laundry processes involving low water temperature wash conditions. The present invention also relates to novel mid-chain branched peracids and precursors for use in the compositions of the present invention.

1 . A bleaching compound having a formula selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and mixtures thereof, R, R 1 , and R 2  are each independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 3  alkyl, provided R, R 1 , and R 2  are not all hydrogen; w is an integer from 0 to 11; x is an integer from 0 to 11; y is an integer from 0 to 11, z is an integer from 0 to 11 when m is not 0 and when m is 0, z is an integer from 1 to 11; w+x+y+z is from 5 to 11; and EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, wherein m is within the range of from 0 to about 30 and L, when present, is a leaving group; provided that when m is 0 and w is 0 or 1, then R is H and when w is 0 then R 1  is also H; and provided that when m is 0 and w and x are both 0, then R and R 1  are both H.  
     
     
         2 . The compound as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the R, R 1 , and R 2  branching, but not including the carbon atoms in the EO/PO alkoxy moiety, is from 9 to 20.  
     
     
         3 . The compound as claimed in  claim 1  wherein EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups.  
     
     
         4 . The compound as claimed in  claim 1  wherein R, R 1 , and R 2  are each independently selected from hydrogen and methyl.  
     
     
         5 . The compound as claimed in  claim 1  wherein m is within the range of from 0.1 to 10.  
     
     
         6 . A bleaching composition comprising the bleaching compound according to any of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         7 . The composition as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the bleaching compound has the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and R, R 1  and R 2 , w, x, y, z, and m are defined as above.  
     
     
         8 . A detergent composition comprising: 
 (a) from 0.001% to 99% of the, bleaching compound according to any of claims  1 - 5 ; and    (b) from 1% to 99.999% by weight of one or more detergent adjunct ingredients.    
     
     
         9 . The detergent as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the bleaching compound has the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and R, R 1  and R 2 , w, x, y, z, and m are defined as above.